Since the Vietnam War, our way of thinking has changed. More and more people now publicly oppose war; we saw this opposition to war in Kosovo, in Iraq. Many people were against these wars and, from Australia to America, people openly protested against these wars. This is truly a hopeful sign.

The audience, when the debate actually happens, will be huge. Tremendous, in fact. Some (we won't say who) are even predicting it could be a bigger television event worldwide than the 1969 moon landing.

As German Chancellor Angela Merkel is discovering through repeated blows at the polls, when the wages of war outstrip the means of empathy, people retreat to their own suffering and better angels lose their wings. Bad faith results from good intentions if the capacity to fulfill moral claims is lacking. (continued)

As manifested in the United States, race and religion are extremely delicate topics for politicians to explore. And eradicating widespread endemic prejudices against certain racial and religious groups is a notoriously explosive proposition.

People young and old were relaxing on the streets after celebrating France's national holiday. Full of joy from fireworks shows celebrating peace and unity. And then a massive white truck barrels down the main road killing 84 people. Including ten children. Leaving hundreds in hospital. Many fighting for their lives.